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Alternative Names: Chesil beach,
Type of Dive: Shore dive on a pebble beach
Picture by Minxsy
Suggested experience: Sport diver
Travel directions: For Weymouth, follow the A37 or A354 to Dorchester, then the A354 to Weymouth and onto Portland via the A354,, the main road is narrow heading into Portland (only route in) and to the left you will normally see sailing boats. When you get to the first island after this go straight on, there is then a right hand turn which takes you to the beach entry point. Chesil Cove is at the south east end of chesil beach.
Parking directions: Car parking at Chesil can be a bit problem but the worst that can happen is having to carry the dive dive kit down to the beach a couple of hundred meters in two trips. If you drive down to near the beach and dump the heavy gear plus a minder at the closest point to the sea it saves a lot of heavy carrying. There is also a free car park just past the Cove House Inn next to the Blue Fish Cafe, Google
Lat & Long: N50 33.720 W2 27.118 Admiralty Chart 3315
Tides: Tide tables The tide is parallel to the shore making diving safe here.
Depth: 15m
Site entry/exit: Head down the ramp at the pebble beach. Care must be taken as further along the beach the tide can be strong and it tends to run along the beach. The problem is you can surface a long way from your point of entry. Utube
Underwater directions: Head out on a bearing of 270 deg over pebbles then onto sand in approx 12 meters. The remains of a shipwreck, the Prevetza, lies opposite the top of the slipway ramp in around 6 meters of water. Always use a Surface Marker Buoy when diving here.
Site Hazards: Swell and exiting the water up the pebble slope. This is not for the faint hearted it can be very hard work getting out of the water if there is any swell. The waves hit you on your back and knock you forward and, as each wave retreats, there is a vicious undertow. If you can get help take it as cameras etc can get damaged. This cove gets very busy especially at bank holiday weekends.
Nearest Public phone:
Accommodation: Cottage Weymouth tourist information, 01305 785747. The Aqua
Mobile Network service: Most networks work here.
Other comments: Chesil cove is famous for the sea life, and trigger fish. There are numerous wrecks in Portland harbour including the Hood, Bombardon Unit, LCT, Spaniard or the Enicuri, Secret Harbour, Chequered Fort, Countess of Erne, Himalaya, Sea Vixen. Comprehensive information on the beach can be found here
Pub: Cove house Inn The little ship
Created by: Finstrokes
Cafe: Quiddles Cafe, The blue fish,
Air & Nitrox fills: Fathom and Blues Scimitardiving
Revision: 1
Thanks To:
Links: BSAC
Surface Photos:
Underwater Photos: By Yvonne Barnicoat Utube
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